Description: First awarded in 1973-74, the Jack Adams Award is presented annually “to the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success.”
Voting: Members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association submit ballots for the Jack Adams Award at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists.
History: The Jack Adams Award was presented by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association in 1974 in honor of the late Jack Adams, longtime coach and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings.
2023-24 Winner: Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet won the 2023‑24 Jack Adams Award.
A first-time finalist, he became the third winner in Canucks history, following Alain Vigneault in 2006‑07 and Pat Quinn in 1991‑92.
Tocchet appeared as a top-three pick on 109 of the 114 ballots and received 82 first-place votes for 483 voting points in a decisive win. Nashville Predators head coach Andrew Brunette finished second with 145 voting points, followed by the Winnipeg Jets’ Rick Bowness (75 points), who edged the New York Rangers’ Peter Laviolette (66) and Edmonton Oilers’ Kris Knoblauch (64) in a close three-way race for third place.
In his first full season behind the Vancouver bench, Tocchet led the team to one of its finest regular seasons, capturing the Pacific Division title and No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with the third-highest point total in franchise history (50‑23‑9, 109 points).
The Canucks made dramatic gains over 2022‑23 in several categories, climbing from 22nd to sixth in the overall NHL standings; from 26th to fourth in points earned at home (40 to 59); from 25th to fifth (tied) in average goals against per game (3.61 to 2.70); and from 32nd to 17th in penalty-killing percentage (71.6% to 79.1%).
Vancouver posted the NHL’s best goal differential in the first period (+38) and excelled late as well, going 42‑1‑4 when leading after two periods – the most such wins in the League and double their total from 2022‑23 (21‑1‑4).
